Sebastian Karpf

University of California, Los Angeles, University of Lübeck

Papers

Total Citations

261

H-Index

About

Sebastian Karpf is a leading innovator in ultrafast photonics and computational imaging, whose work pushes the boundaries of high-speed 3D sensing. His primary research centers on developing novel time-stretch LiDAR systems, a transformative approach that overcomes the mechanical speed limitations of conventional time-of-flight cameras. Karpf’s seminal 2019 paper, *"Time-stretch LiDAR as a spectrally scanned time-of-flight ranging camera,"* has garnered over 259 citations, establishing a foundational framework for this technique. He demonstrated how encoding spatial information in the spectrum of a laser pulse enables ultrafast, raster-free 3D imaging, a critical capability for autonomous vehicles and robotics—key pillars of the fourth industrial revolution. This work replaces slow mechanical scanners with all-optical wavelength sweeping, achieving unprecedented frame rates. Karpf’s contributions are not merely theoretical; they directly address the real-time 3D observation needs of autonomous systems, offering a viable path toward faster, more robust environmental perception. His research continues to inspire advances in high-speed imaging, solidifying his reputation as a key architect of next-generation LiDAR technology.